Heating device for washing machines



July 1, 1941. D. J. MICHAELS. 2,248,007

HEATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1940 I v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 20 I Q I Y By A fiorney July 1, 1941. D. J. MICHAELS HEATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1940 In ventor & a a J .C M J y m 0 W 0 Patented July 1, 1941 HEATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Dorothy J. Michaela, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

Application August 12, 1940, Serial No. 352,331

1 Claim."

This invention relates to a heating device for washing machines frequently employed for domestic purposes, and has for the primary object the provision of an electrical heater equipped with an automatic control for heating the water in the washing machine to a desired temperature, thereby eliminating the necessity of preheating water before being placed in the washing machine and permitting the water of the latter to be kept at a desired temperature during the time of use of said washing machine and which will be simple to install and economical to operate.

thermostatic control i I can be readily set for maintaining the water in the Washing machine at a desired temperature. The electric motor used for driving the agitator shaftt is electri cally connected to the junction box I by conductors it, one of which has a control switch 20 With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in. which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section. illustrating a washing machine equipped with an electrical heater constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-! of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating the electric heating element.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the wiring diagram.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a conventional type of washing machine, wherein the bowl or tub is indicated by the character 0 supported by legs I of hollow formation. The agitator shaft is indicated by the character I and is shown as extending into the tub by way of a box I. An agitator II is mounted on the agitator shaft and the portion thereof directly above the box 1 is provided with a series 'of perforations H to permit natural or free circulation of the water within the tub and over the box I and in which is located an electric heater I! forming the sub- Ject matter of the present invention.

The box 0 has a removable cover I I to permi the installation of the electric heater in the box and provides a support therefor. Extending from the electric heater is an electric conduit ll connccting with a junction box ll mounted in one of the legs I, as shown in Figure 1. An electric extension cord It leads from the junction box through an opening in'one of the legs so that by conductors ll arranged within the leg. The 0 it may be readily connected to an ordinary electherein. It is to be understood that the control switch is conveniently located on the washing machine so that the motor can be started and stopped when desired. v

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that an extremely simple, compact and durable electric heater has been provided which can be readily adapted to a washing machine for the purpose of heating water therein and includes an automatic thermostatic control whereby the water of the washing machine can be kept at selected temperatures.

It is to be understood that the automatic thermostatic control is located in direct contact with the tub so that it will be responsive to the temperature of the water in the tub.

Through the use of the present invention'on a washing machine the necessity of preheating water prior to placing i into the washing machine will be elimina consequently reducin the cost especially within households where water is frequently heated in'a domestic system and then placed in the washing machine requirin loss of time and the cost attached to heating more water than is needd for the successful operation of the washing machine. While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be Having thus described the invention, what 1 claim is:

In a heating device. the combination of a washing machine including a tub having an offset in the bottom wall thereof and provided with a shaftopeningtorotatablyrcccivosshaftcarryintsnogitatorslmportedbysaidoifsctandhollow legs supporting the tub, a cover plate removablysecuredonthetubandclosingtheoifsct and coacting therewith in providing a heat chamber, a fitting carried by said cover plate, on electric heating element supported by said fltting within the chamber, an electric Junction box mountedin one of the legs, means electrically connecting the Junction box to the heater, and a thermostatic control electrically connected to said junction box and supported by the latternamed leg in contact with the tub for the control of the heater.

- DOROTHY J. MICHAELS. 

